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Saturday, November 07, 2009

A look at Bosch MUM86

Side by side. Which one do you like better?

I've been borrowing a new stand mixer for a few weeks now - a Bosch MUM86. I am a true Kitchen-Aid fan and have had my machine for many years now, but as I've been baking more bread recently, I'm thinking about getting something a bit more powerful. Hence, the trial of Bosch.

And I have to say, right away - it *is* better for baking bread. A lot better. It's much more powerful at 1600 watts compared to 300, and it doesn't get as warm nor smell funny like my Kitchen-Aid does after a heavy batch of dough. It also has a smarter lid, that actually keeps stuff in the bowl (I hate the so-called pouring shield on the KA - I always end up with a huge mess) and it also has a really smart little shield right where the hook attaches to the engine. So, for baking - I love it, I really do.

Fitted with the pasta roller attachment.

It's sturdily built - it's heavy and since it has little suction feet, it doesn't move around on the counter. However, it's a bit clunky and hard to operate - you have to press down hard at the button to release the arm, pull up hard on the arm itself, yank attachments out with force, etc. Not for the timid! And one thing I really dislike is that the bowl has really sharp edges, and easily scratches the machine body itself.

It has pretty much the same extra equipment available - I've tried the pasta rollers, and they rock. I haven't tried the KA rollers yet though - I hope I'll be able to borrow some soon. But it sure is much more fun than rolling by hand! I've also tried the food processor attachment, which is a bit small to be a real option for me.

And now for the downside: it can not deal with small amounts like the Kitchen-Aid can. I can easily whip up 100 ml of cream, or just two eggs, in my KA. In the Bosch - forget it. It just won't work. And I really love that feature in the KA - I use it a lot for small stuff, like making aioli or a small batch of buttercream.

The flat beater, which is quite different from Kitchen-Aid's.

So, which one would I choose? Both! I don't know if I'll be buying the Bosch, since it's pretty expensive (a bit more so than the Kitchen-Aid, which is already hugely expensive in Sweden), but if I had the extra cash, I probably would. Bread baking is a big hobby for me, and this machine really, really helps. But I feel that the Kitchen-Aid is more of a multi-tasker - and something I'll never be able to be without.

30 comments:

Bosch is really more expensive than Kitchen Aid in Sweden? Here in Poland this model costs less than KA. Both are expensive, but KA is EXTREMELY so.That's why I use a Bosch mixer, but a more basic version, and I love it. Maybe it's not red or another nice colour, but does what it should.

We left our Kitchenaid at home, with a friend, because of the difference in electric current. We miss it SO! We thought about getting a Bosch ... but just didn't know whether it'd do the same thing.

The Bosch is cheaper than the Kitchenaid, in the UK ... or, at least, it was 2 years ago, when we were looking at them. They're both prohibitively expensive, though, so we're just getting a good workout, making bread. ;)

It looks like the Bosch takes up more space on the counter. Keep the KA if you use it for little jobs.If you make bread a lot it might worth investigating bread machines, especially as Titus gets older, & you get busier with life's adventures, then the machine can make bread for you while you are out of the house.

Erika - ha, that's true. I'm a very weak whisker, so thank goodness I usually have a mixer. (Handheld, often.)

Pene, it does have a larger footprint than the Kitchen-Aid. We used to have a bread machine for a few years when I grew up, but now I love making sourdoughs and exciting bread which needs a lot of kneading, so I don't think they'll work very well for that.

I have a Braun, which might be something in between your KitchenAid and the Bosch. It's not that expensive, comes with a lot of extra equipment (the glass blender is the best!), and we make all our bread doughs in it. For really small portions I use one of those baton blenders (don't know the English term - "stavblender" in Danish) and attachments.

I'm so happy I found this post as I've been thinking about buying a stand mixer. The Kitchen Aid is really pretty and all the American food bloggers and my family in Canada seem to love it.

My parents had a Bosch when I grew up and I actually think it's still working great 30+ years. I can get a Bosch (not the MUM86) but a slightly simpler version much cheaper than a KA. Eventhough it's the simpler version it's still much more powerful (1000 W) and has a bigger bowl and this is where I got stuck...

I do like to bake bread and (without ever trying it) the KA just seemed like it might not be strong enough (or have a big enough bowl?) for my doughs...

But the KA does get rave reviews from almost everybody (though most of my favourite bloggers seem to be more into making cupcakes and cakes and not really heavy dough for bread).

Anyway, I guess it seems like maybe the Kitchen Aid is sadly not for me since bread is my number one priority.

Ellen, if you're mostly into bread baking, I'd recommend something stronger than the Kitchen-Aid, yes. I love it, but both the motor and the bowl is a tad too small. I think KA comes in a larger size too (but not widely available outside US) that's probably a lot better.

What about Kenwood? I have a powerful Major model at home and I find it absolutely super. It handles easily both pasta dough and heavy sticky rye sourdough. And it wisks two egg whites into hard mousse in no time.

Coming from Kitchen Aid country - the factory is 20 minutes up the road from me, I'd have to say that it's unfair to compare a lower-end KA to the Bosch. I am saddened to hear that the KA is so expensive in Sweden - obviously, the KA you're using is cheaper than the Bosch here in Ohio.

Still, one can never have too many kitchen "helpers." My favorites are my professional KA stand mixer and my Cuisinart (20 years old this year!) food processor.

BTW -loved your Penne with Spinach and Chevre recipe. Served it at a pot-luck dinner and it was a big hit!

Love my kitchen aid mixer. Couldn't live without it. I have no problem making bread in it either although my mom did wear out the motor in her first one after 20 years of bread making. They don't make them the same quality that they used to back in the day, but it's still a fantastic mixer.

Anne thanks for this posting comparing the KA to the Bosch MUM8 - I was looking into the Bosch in the US because the brand is so popular with bakers here, but what we have is the Universal Plus - you'd know it as the MUM6. My guess is that Bosch is trying to work out some of the kinks that you mention before selling the MUM8 worldwide and Bosch owners here like the earlier open bowl design. I was super curious about the machine because it looked so good on paper.

But, equally importantly, a quick note to those European bread bakers looking to spend real money on the KA in Europe. In a word, don't! It is a machine that is significantly weaker than the Bosch, and while there are a lot of impassioned KA users out there as it's an American icon, most people baking bread in quantity seem to either have KA's service department on autodial on their phone, or have moved on to machines like the MUM6 (check out thefreshloaf.com). I personally watched my Kitchen Aid Pro 600 go up in smoke in 18 months of light use and I'm now road-testing a Cuisinart 7 quart machine, which uses the Viking motor. Viking seems to be able to handle small quantities better, but it maxes out at about 4 loaves.

Does anyone know about the noise level between KA and MUM86. We have an older BOSCH Concept 7000 that is making so much NOISE that all leaves the kitchen. In addition the Concept 7000 is difficult to clean after use.

Dear AnneVery useful review on mum86 but it seems to be right time after two years, is there any changes on your review? cause I'm going to buy one for home bakery, and its very important to have your advise.

Dean, really? I don't find mine slow - or well, yes, it CAN be, but I like that lowest setting. Hand-kneading is surely much slower? Well, that said, I don't really drag this out much. It mostly sits in my cupboard and rarely sees the light of day.. I prefer the Kitchen-Aid.